If you had only 1 mount, what would it be and why?

[Alan White]

Following on from if you could only have one threads....

Please join in, make interesting reading for all.
Please make sure you tell us what and why though.

[Alan White]

If I had only 1 mount it would be an AYO ii with encoders, linked to a push to computer unit.

Best of both worlds, positional identification and alt az push as I want movement.
Simple movement, small and light, well engineered.

This is a mount I don't yet own.
 

[DaveS]

It we're talking about the mount we already have, then the ASA DDM60, it's just brilliant. Silent, fast slewing, and very accurate tracking. The only negatives are the capacity, only 26kg and incremental encoders.

However, I do have a DDM85 incoming which pushes the limits to 45kg, and has absolute encoders.

[ollypenrice]

I'm led to understand that there are other mounts on the market  but I remain monogamous in my allegiance to...

...the Mesu 200.  Utterly painless, utterly reliable (7 years and counting in commercial use) but do the rules preclude having two examples of the same mount? If so I'm not playing! For me this is the Dob of German equatorials, simple and effective.  One of them is now carrying two TEC 140s.

Olly

 

[andrew s]

For me it's my Paramount ME II. With The Sky X  it just does all you could possibly want. Accurate, powerful,  scriptable and perfect for remote operation.

Regards Andrew 

[Gina]

Skywatcher EQ8.  I'm not necessarily saying it's the best - just the best I've tried and I'm very pleased with it.  Hugely better than the NEQ6 I upgraded from.

[xtreemchaos]

After trying most mounts in the skywatcher line ive settled on the middle ground of the HEQ5 which dos me fine it dos the job good I do have a EQ6 but I find its over kill for what I need so my son uses it. charl.

[Pete Presland]

+1 for the HEQ5, does everything i need it to do, plenty enough payload capacity for anything i am likely to own as well.

[iPeace]

No polar alignment. No motors, or anything else that might break. No bits falling off at awkward moments. Left and right, up and down with dreamy slow-mo control. Carries an 8" f/6 newt to my satisfaction - on a Berlebach Planet tripod, that is...

[fwm891]

Currently waiting for my CEM 60 to arrive but the best mount to date is an Avalon Linear Fast Reverse. Superb mount - still regret selling that. 

[tonyowens_uk]

What I'm looking for doesnt exist yet! I want a mount that has no meridian flips, no worm gears (despite all my work on refining EQ8's) no microstepped stepper motors, has a weight and size low enough to be airline cabin baggage, maintenance-free, cable-free, backlash-free, counterweight-free, capable of being rained-on without ill effects, and with at least a 20 Kg imaging payload. Perhaps combine the wireless servo controls and GUI of the AZGTi, provide differential timing belt transmissions, reinforced phenolic casework, wire race bearings and a single arm fork design... Or maybe something with delta 3d printer kinematics plus a 4th axis for image derotation?

One of the best resolved commercial designs I've seen recently is the Panther line of Goto mounts. Despite the counterweights!

[Space Hopper]

My DiscMounts DM6. Unpowered alt - az. 

Its a rare beast in the UK.

Great for easy sessions and will hold a big scope.

No counterweights, no wires everywhere, no crappy handsets.

Add a Nexus DSC and encoders and the sky is the limit.

Edited August 2, 2019 by Tubby Bear

[russ]

Another thumbs up for the HEQ5. It hits the sweet spot for load capacity, tracking while still being portable. I am 100% happy with it and not looking for another mount. This thread is far easier to answer than the scope and eyepiece threads  

[wxsatuser]

A tweaked heq5 is a very good mount.
I see no reason to speed a load on another mount as mine works very well.

[iPeace]

Tiny addition - if not the Losmandy AZ8, then ANYTHING made by @Doc.

[Alan White]

29 minutes ago, iPeace said:

Tiny addition - if not the Losmandy AZ8, then ANYTHING made by @Doc.

That is quite a good point Mike.
 

[MarsG76]

If any mount feasable than something like a JTW OGEM or Fornax 100 mount.... 100Kg payload should negate any need to upgrade ever again.

 

[Paz]

I'd probably want to have an alt az mount for the simplicity for visual use but with the facility to track objects and good enough to carry up to 10kg.

I'm assuming my dobsonian doesn't count and I can keep a dobsonian as well?

[Alan White]

2 minutes ago, Paz said:

I'm assuming my dobsonian doesn't count and I can keep a dobsonian as well?

Only 1, so one or the other

[Rob]

1 hour ago, russ said:

Another thumbs up for the HEQ5. It hits the sweet spot for load capacity, tracking while still being portable. I am 100% happy with it and not looking for another mount. This thread is far easier to answer than the scope and eyepiece threads  

Ditto Russ.. and totally agree! Rob

[MarsG76]

A heavy duty alt-az mount on a wedge.. no meridian flip imaging all night long.

 

 

[Paul73]

Hassle free is a must for an “only one mount”. So a humble Sky T ii atop of one of Berlebach’s finest would do me. Agricultural but bullet proof. The smooth slo-mo is an added bonus.

It can handle a couple of 100mm solar scopes happily. 😁😁😁

That Losmandy AZ8 does look the business though.......

Paul

Edited August 2, 2019 by Paul73

[DaveS]

23 minutes ago, MarsG76 said:

A heavy duty alt-az mount on a wedge.. no meridian flip imaging all night long.

 

 

Well, if you insist

 

[MarsG76]

12 minutes ago, DaveS said:

Well, if you insist

 

OK OK... so I just mopped up my drool and mumbled "gimme"....

 

[KyleStoke]

+1 for the Mesu, its that good I cant actually remember how to set a mount up, I did it once two years ago and that's it.